Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum stated Monday, the eve of a deadline to avoid penalties, that the country had backup plans ready in case US President Donald Trump moves forward with sweeping tariffs.
During her morning news conference, she stated, “We have a plan, regardless of the outcome.”
Sheinbaum emphasised the importance of patience by adding, “There is constant communication in different areas, both security and trade, and we will wait to see what happens.”
“We have plan A, plan B, plan C, and plan D,” she stated, refusing to elaborate.
Trump declared 25% taxes on Mexican goods shortly after he took office, blaming the influx of lethal fentanyl and illegal immigration.
Mexico vowed retaliatory tariffs before the two countries agreed on a one-month pause, which expires on Tuesday, after Sheinbaum agreed to deploy 10,000 more troops to the Mexican-US border.
Senior Mexican officials met with their U.S. counterparts in Washington this week and promised to take more concerted action against drug trafficking.
Some of Mexico’s most infamous drug lords who have been imprisoned were extradited to the US on Thursday, including a cartel kingpin who has been wanted for decades for the death of a US undercover agent.
Sheinbaum stated that the decision to impose tariffs “depends on the US government” and that her government had reached “the necessary agreements” with Washington.
Mexico offered to match Washington’s tariff increases on China to reach an agreement, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday.
“I do think one very interesting proposal that the Mexican government has made is perhaps matching the US on our China tariffs,” Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.
Bessent claimed that if Canada followed suit, “we could have Fortress North America” protecting against an influx of Chinese goods.
